children’s health
Blogs about all aspects of children’s health.
11 Feb
talkhealth launches talkgreen!
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new sustainable healthcare platform talkgreen! talkgreen is your one-stop-shop for all things sustainable healthcare. Whether you’re new to transparency or have been going green for sometime, talkgreen helps you to put …
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4 Nov
Make homemade alternatives to eat more nutrient dense & sugar reduced lollies
You’ll already know that manufacturers process food so that we keep buying. This means they put excess refined sugar in most foods. Although recent law for a 20% sugar reduction in food produced by 2020, has meant that manufacturers have …
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7 Nov
Keeping your immune system strong
The colder months have now arrived, and we’re experiencing more colds & flu virus’ ? than ever. ? Although scientists don’t yet understand why we are more susceptible to this in the winter months, we do know that the cold …
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5 Nov
4 Myths About Ear Infections You Need To Know
What is an ear infection? An ear infection is an infection which can affect any part of the ear. The middle ear is located directly behind the eardrum and this sort of infection is usually caused by trapped bacteria and …
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2 Oct
The season of sniffles – common causes of breathing difficulties in young children and how to help
Autumn is the prime time for colds, coughs, sneezes and sniffles. As the weather steadily becomes colder and damper, existing breathing issues such as asthma can become unstable and need more careful management. Added to which, infections and viruses such …
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20 Sep
Antidepressants, students & mental health care, sugar tax & tea-drinking benefits
Missed out on all the latest health news this week? Catch up now… Most common antidepressant does little to relieve depression symptoms New research suggests that the most common antidepressant actually does little to relieve symptoms of depression. The largest …
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4 Sep
Anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injectors a comprehensive guide
Anaphylaxis is an extremely severe allergic reaction. Reactions usually begin within minutes and progress rapidly, however, they can occur up to 2-3 hours after exposure and exercise can also initiate symptoms a while after exposure to an allergen. Common allergens …
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19 Jul
NHS Texting Results, Skin Cancer Rates, Child Mental Health & More
Have you missed out on the health news this week? Catch up now. In other news, we’ve heard the weather is set to turn this weekend so have your umbrellas at the ready! NHS plans to text patients results The …
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11 Jul
Staying safe around water this summer – a guide for children and their parents
Having fun in the sun during the summer holidays often includes water, be it in a paddling pool, Lido, villa pool, lake, river or the sea. However, whilst it is refreshing to take a dip, staying safe is vital. Sadly, …
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28 Jun
Heatwave health warning, babies eating too much sugar, cervical cancer decline, eczema & more
Have you missed the latest health news this week? There has been a lot happening and we’ve summarised it all for you here. Have a lovely weekend and make sure you stay safe in the sun. Met office issues health …
Continue ReadingPosted in allergies, allergy, cancer, children's health, eczema, general health, men's health, women's health
28 May
Sepsis: Life-Threatening Yet Difficult to Spot
Sepsis is responsible for 52,000 deaths in the UK each year. A distressing 250,000 people contract the condition, which can have life changing implications; such as amputations, internal organ failure and brain damage. Why has sepsis been in the news? …
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15 May
Do I need my tonsils removed?
Many people who suffer from tonsillitis frequently ask if they need their tonsils removing. This is done by tonsillectomy – a surgical procedure which involves removing the tonsils. The recommended treatment for tonsillitis depends on its severity, how often it …
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7 May
Teenagers and First Aid
Teenagers are risk takers! Teach them first aid Teenagers and young people are the most likely to push boundaries and take risks. Rather than restricting their freedom, why not equip them with the skills and confidence to help each other …
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22 Mar
DIY Cervical Cancer Kits, Stress Dogs in Schools, Superdrug Breast Checks & More
If you’ve not had time to catch up on all the latest health news this week (22nd March), don’t worry! We’ve summarised some of the key stories for you. Dogs needed to reduce stress in schools The University of Buckingham …
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20 Mar
How a skin condition like psoriasis can affect your child and what you can do to support them
Living with a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema is hard. Around 60% of people with psoriasis suffer with depression and up to 48% report feeling anxious. While we know about the psychological impact of psoriasis on adults, less is …
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8 Mar
Health Round Up – Smear Tests, Ambulance Response, Diabetes & Weight loss & More
Happy Internation Women’s Day! If you’ve not had time to catch up on all the latest health news this week (4th March), we’ve summarised some of the key stories for you. Public Health England Launch Cervical Cancer TV Campaign The government …
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4 Mar
Health round up – Parkinson’s, autism & anorexia, vitamin D and more!
If you’ve not had time this week (1 March 2019) to read the health news, we’ve summarised some of the key stories for you. Radical Parkinson’s treatment Researchers have tested a radical treatment for people with Parkinson’s. The treatment delivers …
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4 Feb
Ask our experts your questions about allergies
From today until 15 February 2019, we are running an Online Clinic on Allergies. Medical experts will be available to answer questions throughout this time. We are delighted that Green People and Imutest are sponsoring the clinic. The clinic is …
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18 Jan
Correct portion size, diet, sandwich carers, cancer & more
This week in health – 18 January 2019. This week we look at diet, portion size, research into concussion with premiership footballers, and teenage cancer and more. A snapshot of some of the key stories in health can be found …
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17 Jan
Head lice: what you need to know
Head lice made headlines after Labour MP Emma Hardy suggested changes made to NHS guidelines “threatens an epidemic of head lice in our schools” in parliamentary debate at the end of last year. The guidance published by NHS England in …
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4 Jan
This week in health – 4 January 2019
Each week, talkhealth summarises the key health stories of the week. This week it’s all about wasted GP appointments, sugar and children, children and screen time, how the NHS is coping better this winter and the challenges the NHS will …
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19 Dec
Herbal skin cream found to contain steroids
MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have warned the general public that a skin cream claiming to be a natural Chinese herbal remedy for treating eczema contains a potentially harmful steroid and should not be used. Zudaifu cream Zudaifu …
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29 Nov
A guide to foreskin problems
Foreskin problems are not to be taken lightly. If you notice a foreskin problem, either on yourself, or on your child, it’s important that you get it seen to right away. When boys are born, their foreskin will often be …
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5 Nov
Living while starving, but you’re not even aware of it
Every parent wants to provide the best environment for their child, where they could develop a healthy attitude to themselves and their food, which will become part of their everyday life. This is a very important aspect of raising a …
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13 Jul
This week in health – 13/07/2018
Welcome to another rendition of talkhealth’s weekly round-up of the biggest news stories of the week. This week, we’ll be looking at topics including vitamin pills, diabetes and sexual health. So, let’s get started! Diabetes Type 1 Experts believe they …
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14 Jun
What a Good Relationship With Your Doctor Looks Like
Have you ever walked out of an appointment with your GP and wondered what you paid all that money for? Have you ever felt like they didn’t really listen, palmed you off, even scoffed at your symptoms? Getting good medical …
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8 Jun
This week in health – 08/06/2018
We’ve come to the end of another week and, as such, talkhealth will be looking through all the top news stories from the world of health. This week’s roundup includes new treatments and research, and overview of the summer months …
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11 May
This week in health – 11/05/2018
Welcome to another week of talkhealth’s news round-up. This week, we will be looking at news around a new drug that could help cure male baldness, how delays in cancer treatment are having a huge impact on patients, and new …
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3 May
New evidence challenges use of bath emollients for children with eczema
A study published today in the BMJ suggests that there is little good evidence on the benefits of emollient bath additives, although the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends regular use of “emollient wash products” for children …
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26 Apr
Explaining MS symptoms
Trying to explain MS to someone who doesn’t have the condition can be extremely difficult; multiple sclerosis can have a huge impact of people in a variety of different ways, so convey this to someone with no experience of the …
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4 Apr
LUV your sensitive skin with SunSense
Do you struggle to find the right sunscreen for your sensitive skin? Finding the right sunscreen can be problematic if you suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes due to prickly heat or polymorphic light eruption and …
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28 Mar
Osteopathy for children – seeking your views
If you’ve ever considered taking your child to an osteopath, we’d love to hear from you! More and more parents are taking their children to see osteopaths but how do they decide which practitioners to see and what influences their …
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6 Feb
Tinnitus Awareness Week 2018
Tinnitus Awareness Week is running from 5-11 February this year. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the condition, which affects approximately 1 in 10 of the population. A recent British Tinnitus Association survey found that just under …
Continue ReadingPosted in 50+ & life, children's health, hearing, men's health, women's health
24 Jan
Live Twitter Q&A Tuesday 30th 1:00 pm & 7:30 pm
For those of you have been reading and (hopefully) enjoying my recent blog posts regarding how best you as parents can help your children navigate the choppy waters of education and careers related learning, and, by so doing mitigate the …
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17 Jan
The same but different
It’s been well over a year since I last posted on here which is a new record for me! Truth be told I just haven’t felt like it. I think I became a bit disillusioned with the whole thing and …
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3 Jan
New Year, new you? You’re better off eating cake than pretending you don’t for a fortnight.
New year, new you? It’s one of the biggest myths perpetrated by, well, just about everyone and everything. The simple function of chronology doesn’t allow one to entirely reinvent oneself because the hand of a clock sweeps past an arbitrary …
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2 Jan
PHE launches Change4Life campaign around children’s snacking
Public Health England (PHE) has launched the first Change4Life campaign specifically promoting healthier snacks in order to help parents take better control of their children’s snacks. Shockingly, half of children’s sugar intake, currently around 7 sugar cubes a day, comes …
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2 Jan
3 before GP
Patients are being urged to adopt a new three-step approach in order to help relieve pressures on GP services over the winter. The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) have launched a campaign called ‘3 before GP’ which refers to three questions patients …
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6 Dec
Don’t let dry skin spoil your little one’s adventures: tips & solutions for winter
Over 1 in 5 children have eczema or a dry skin condition. Winter is often worse with wind-chill, cold, and central heating triggering flare ups. The associated itching, irritation and poor sleep can really spoil little ones fun, so dry …
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9 Nov
3 simple steps to help define and secure your child’s future (and take a load off too…)
In my previous blog post I spoke about how the gravity of the choices facing our students could be, amongst other factors, having a demonstrably negative impact on their wellbeing and mental health. This is an idea that has certainly …
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25 Oct
Is poor mental health in our young the inevitable consequence of uncertainty?
Given the renewed focus in the UK to address years of stigmatising, ignoring or explaining away it is refreshing to see mental health is being acknowledged as an issue worthy of time, money and initiatives. For too long the rote …
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12 Oct
The tale of the lost slippers
I haven’t had a decent, proper pair of slippers for a long time. So, a couple of weeks ago I treated myself while out shopping, especially thinking of the cooler days ahead, night feeds with a newborn and also just …
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29 Aug
Next stage of world-leading childhood obesity plan announced
Publich Health England (PHE) are now considering the evidence on children’s calorie consumption and are setting the ambition for the calorie reduction programme to remove excess calories from the foods children consume the most. These foods include pizzas, burgers, ready …
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9 Jul
It’s been a while…
I hadn’t actually realised that it had been so long since I posted something, anything on here! The blog has crossed my mind over the last few months but I’ve been struggling a bit with ‘writers block’ and not really …
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18 Apr
Infections and Conditions Common to Children
Vaccines have made a lot of the illnesses associated with childhood a rarity, but many others continue to be a fact of life. They range from such common infections as conjunctivitis and croup to the more mysterious ones, such as …
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12 Apr
Discussing Ways to Achieve a Healthy Lifestyles with Children
Children today live in a world that’s changing rapidly. Processed foods are the new norm and electronic devices are replacing activity. If you’re concerned that your children are caught up in the fast lane, it’s time to put your parenting …
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29 Mar
WellChild Awards 2017: Nominations open for inspirational children, young people and carers
More than 100,000 children and young people are living with serious illness or exceptional health needs across the UK. Many spend months, even years in hospital simply because there is no support enabling them to leave. Do you know a …
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21 Feb
Call the Midwife episode featuring a character with Down’s Syndrome
Being a regular viewer of the BBC One drama ‘Call the Midwife’, I noticed last week during the preview for this weeks episode that there was to be a character with Down’s Syndrome appearing. I was intrigued and a little …
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17 Feb
Should you take Vitamin D to combat colds and flu?
Yesterday (16 February 2017) it was widely reported on TV, in newspapers and across the Internet that taking Vitamin D could significantly reduce the incidence of colds and flu amongst the general population. In fact, some newsrooms went as far …
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27 Jan
Ask the Expert: Children’s Skin Conditions
Last week saw the launch of our latest venture – Ask the Expert. The one day clinic, which took place Wednesday 18th January, was the first in a series of Ask the Expert sessions which will run in partnership with …
Continue ReadingPosted in allergy, children's health, eczema, psoriasis, SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, talkhealth
16 Jan
Should GPs run a 7 day service?
The government are keen for GP surgeries to open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Doctors are being told that if they fail to meet their commitments to keep surgeries open for longer, they may lose extra funding. …
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11 Jan
Tickly coughs and dribbly noses
It’s that time of year, and if you’re working in an office you’re probably surrounded by coughs and colds. A nasty cold bug started doing the rounds in the talkhealth office just before Christmas with about half of the team …
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7 Jan
Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe
Pizza dough recipe Something a little different from my usual content but as it’s a new year, there are new things to share and new directions to explore! After being repeatedly asked for the recipe whenever I’ve made pizza for …
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15 Dec
talkhealth backs the new sepsis awareness campaign
Today (15th December 2016) a new campaign has been launched by Public Health England (PHE) to help raise awareness of Sepsis – a condition which has been blamed for approximately 37,000 deaths a year and arises as a complication of …
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1 Dec
Welcome to wonderful
Yesterday saw the official launch of the Mencap ‘FamilyHub’ – A new online community for parents and carers of children (young and old and yet to be born!) with a learning disability. This will be a great resource for people …
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26 Nov
Now you are six
A letter for Ella…To Ella, our wonderful girl, today you are 6!Six years since I missed my own baby shower because you decided to show up three weeks early. Six years since our journey into the unexpected started. Six years …
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16 Nov
GHC launch “Small Steps for Big Change”
More than 3 million children under 5 years old will die from infectious diseases next year and now, with the cold and flu season firmly upon us, the risk of infectious illnesses spreading thick and fast is far more prevalent. …
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6 Nov
Our little Rainbow
I have fond memories from my childhood of my time as a Brownie and Girl Guide… Drinking my first cup of tea at Brownie camp, first time away from my mum and dad (a whole 3 miles down the …
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2 Nov
Dear Rosie, Thank you.
In the weeks since the BBC documentary A World Without Down’s Syndrome? there has been a great deal of discussion around the subject. As with any good debate there have been many opinions shared, however there was one comment I read …
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17 Oct
Superstar
I’m still getting used to the double drop off and pick ups on the school run, with Ella and Lucy being at different places for this school year. Wednesday to Friday, Lucy is in pre-school which means I drop off …
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7 Oct
A World Without Downs
I will write more about ‘A World Without Down’s/NIPT soon – I need some time to gather my thoughts first (and I’ve got a poorly Ella to look after at the moment!). The following post is cobbled together from my …
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6 Oct
No hidden agenda's
Well that was quite something…I hope those of you that tuned into watch “A World Without Down’s syndrome?” enjoyed it as much as I did. A quote that struck a real chord with me came when the Icelandic geneticist spoke of the manger …
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4 Oct
A World Without Down's Syndrome?
Some of you may have noticed (many of you won’t care!) but it’s almost a year since I posted on here. Not something I’m proud of nor ashamed of but it has made it harder each time I approach the …
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27 Sep
Milk monitor
I’m still struggling with getting back into the school routine. Mornings particularly are a hectic and stressful time of day for me – as they probably are in most houses where school age children live. Ian leaves for work at …
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22 Sep
Visit from the Tooth Fairy
When Ella was a baby, one of many things we were told (that subsequently turned out not to be the case), was that as she had Down’s Syndrome she would teeth later than other babies and when they did start …
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4 Sep
Potty Training a child with Down’s Syndrome – our journey
Potty training is a rite of passage and a skill that most children conquer between the ages of 2 and 4 years of age. And, just like every other life skill children have to master, some get the hang of …
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21 Aug
End of an era: Lucy leaves nursery
This was our last time ever through the big blue doors… Five years ago, I carried Ella through these doors in her car seat as a little baby, when life was still so full of worry and uncertainty. The …
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16 Aug
Summer Baking Class with Ella
We are almost half way through our summer holiday. We’ve had some lovely family days out, seen family and friends. There have also been days where we’ve had nothing planned and just spent some much needed time at home and …
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27 Jul
Learning and Growing
That’s it! Reception year is finished… School is finally out for summer… Wow, that year went fast. The once pristine book bag is now looking well used, the hem on her dresses is much shorter and I’ve been praying for a …
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20 Jul
Best Apps for Healthy Sleep for You and Your Children
Sleep deprivation is a worldwide problem of our time. Although the recommended amount of sleep is 8 hours daily for adults and about 10 hours for school-aged children, an average grown-up barely sleeps 6 hours a day. As for teenagers, …
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15 Jul
A Butterfly In The Wind…
I can’t believe that Ella only has two more weeks left in her reception year at school. This time last year I was so full of anticipation, hope and worry at the thought of sending her to school… …
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14 Jul
This Week in Health: The Power of Pokémon
The resurgence of Pokémon has taken the world by storm in the past week, and you would be hard pressed trying to find someone who had no knowledge of it. The Pokémon Go app has in its first few days …
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30 Jun
I See…
I look at these photographs and see so many things… I see my little artist drawing – one of her favourite things to do. I see her concentration and focus on the task at hand. I see a …
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22 Jun
Heart MOT
It’s been 5 years since Ella had her heart surgery at Alder Hey. We celebrated her ‘heart day’ just a few weeks ago with a bit of quiet reflection, lots of thankfulness and of course, cake… Today we went back …
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17 May
This Week in Health News: The First Penis Transplant in the USA, and Should Men Over 40 Avoid Having Children?
A prominent health news story over the last few days has been the reporting on the first penis transplant in the USA. The story may make many readers wince, but as the doctors who performed the operation have pointed out, …
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9 May
This Week in Health News: Sun Awareness Week 2016
With the temperature hitting upwards of 26°C across the country this weekend, thousandsof us were outside enjoying the weather. But while you were out in the sun, how much attention did you pay to the protection of your skin? In …
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12 Apr
This Week in Health News: Revelations about the Quality of Mental Health Care for Young People and a Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
Two stories that have dominated the health news over the last few days share a common theme: that young people with mental health problems are being let down by the medical establishment in the UK. An edition of the BBC’s …
Continue ReadingPosted in cancer, children's health, general health, healthcare, mental health, weight
8 Apr
Heart & Sold Art exhibition
We have recently spent two lovely Saturday afternoons visiting Salford Museum and Art Gallery. Our reason for visiting was the recent opening of the ‘Heart & Sold‘ Art exhibition. This unique and special art collection was previewed in London …
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6 Apr
This Week in Health News: More Strikes, The Oldest Ever Mother of Triplets, and Singing’s Effect on Cancer
Today (Wednesday 6th April), junior doctors in England began their fourth strike over the new contracts that are to be ‘imposed’ on them by the government. The walkout began at 08:00am and will last for 48 hours. With these latest …
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18 Mar
Treloar Talks
At talkhealth, we believe strongly in the importance of talking about health issues. Last week, then, we were delighted to attend the inaugural Treloar Talks event – an evening of fascinating presentations from an eclectic group of speakers in support …
Continue ReadingPosted in children's health, disability, general health, healthcare, talkhealth
8 Mar
A little something extra… Everyday
The Celebrating difference I don’t think about or see Ella’s Down’s syndrome everyday. I used to, but not now. On the face of it she is like many typical 5 year olds. She goes to school, has lots of friends, …
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3 Mar
Everything You Need to Know About Physician Incentive Plans
In healthcare, there are a wide number of options that offer monetary incentives to healthcare providers. These are known as Physician Incentives Plans, or PIP for short. There are currently around 40 different PIP available across the United States, …
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16 Feb
This Week in Health News: Printing Body Parts, Mental Health, and the ‘War’ over Junior Doctors’ Contracts
In the last few weeks, the NHS has been going through one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history. As you will probably have already seen, the struggles continued last week even as the crisis over junior doctors’ …
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11 Feb
Is there no safe way to get a suntan?
This week, actor Hugh Jackman revealed on social media that he has recently undergone treatment for basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. He’s been treated for the condition a number of times before, and has this …
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9 Feb
This Week in Health News: Children’s Mental Health, and How Much do You Cost the NHS?
After weeks of debate and strikes, the NHS continues to dominate the news this week. For a start, junior doctors are due to strike again tomorrow (Wednesday 10th February), over the ongoing dispute about proposed changes to their contracts. A …
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31 Jan
Losing Down’s syndrome?
This is Ella at 2 days old, snuggled with her daddy. Loved and protected. All that she knew and all that she needed. And in so many ways, I wish we could keep her just like this. …
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27 Jan
Parenting Stress: Aren’t You Fed Up?
Being a parent is a terrible full-time job. And if you meet people who say it isn’t – believe me, they are either on meds, or still pregnant and have never been ‘in the field’ for real-life parenting. Of course, …
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27 Jan
This week in health news: Strikes, Sugar Tax, and more
Welcome to our second weekly round-up of health news! Last week, we talked about the ongoing dispute about junior doctors’ contract renegotiations and the strikes that had broken out the week before, as well as the proposed ‘sugar tax’ in …
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22 Jan
Should mental health be taught in primary schools?
Far from being a problem exclusively suffered by adults, mental health issues affect children too. According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health around one in ten youngsters suffer from mental health problems, with 75% of these not …
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12 Jan
Meet Speedo Mick … charity fundraiser extraordinaire
Amongst other things I’m a Wycombe Wanderers football fan. A league 2 club with no money but fans who totally believe in and support the manager and the squad week in and week out. And this weekend just gone was …
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7 Jan
The year that was – 2015
I always enjoy writing these end of year posts on the blog. What we’ve done, where we’ve been, who we’ve met and what we have learnt. It’s always lovely to be able to look back and see where the year …
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24 Nov
Tips to ease ear infection pain in children
Middle ear infections (acute otitis media) are one of the most common childhood illnesses. More than 80% of children will have at least one infection by their third birthday, and nearly 100% will have experienced an episode by age five. …
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23 Nov
Mummy
I was sorting through Ella’s school book bag on Sunday evening, getting ready for the week ahead. In and amongst the parent governor nomination letter, her communication book and the many drawings she comes home with on a daily basis, …
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4 Nov
What To Expect If You Are Having An MRI
Five years ago I barely even knew what an MRI was. Since then, the word MRI has featured far more frequently than I would have liked within my family. Due to serious health scares with three of my four children, …
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2 Nov
Emma-jane – a serious good news story!
It is always so nice to get good news stories, isn’t it? So, I was chuffed to bits to get an email from a proud gran who had been a subscriber to the Foods Matter magazine way back in 2002. At …
Continue ReadingPosted in allergy, bladder, bowel, children's health, complementary treatments, eczema, nutrition
21 Oct
A Pink Umbrella
Today was wet! And we can’t complain too much as the weather has been quite dry of late. But I guess it’s that time of year when the days are just going to get darker, colder and wetter. After I’d …
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15 Oct
You are my sunshine
You may have picked up from my last post that little Bud is becoming much more demanding at home and as a result much harder work for us. It’s not so much the behaviour as the relentless need for attention. …
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2 Oct
Type 2 Diabetes doesn’t discriminate for Age
The news of an obese 3 year old from Texas being the youngest patient ever with type 2 diabetes is shocking indeed. She reached the weight of 5 ½ stone and developed symptoms of extreme thirst and excess urination after …
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25 Sep
Ready for the School run…
Ella’s been in school for 3 weeks now. She has settled well, is participating activities and learning along side her peers. She loves her teacher, giving her a big hug as a greeting each morning. She knows where her peg …
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21 Sep
Proud Moments – {September 2015}
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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21 Sep
Jamie’s sugar tax – no way……..
Did anyone see Jamie’s Sugar Rush on Channel 4 a few weeks ago? Jamie Oliver’s new campaign to tackle childhood obesity by reducing sugar intake through a sugar tax on soft drinks. It was an excellent programme and showed, among …
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18 Sep
Summer Respite
No sooner did Summer come and it’s already gone. For those of us living in the North there would be a strong case for questioning whether it ever came at all. Thankfully we were fortunate enough to manage two weeks …
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14 Sep
Medical clowns help kids with allergy tests
I think I had heard of medical clowns before, but my attention was caught by this report in Science Daily (courtesy of my colleague, John Scott) about medical clowns being used to distract and calm children during allergy testing. What a great idea. Prick …
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6 Sep
The stigma of stomas?
Luke Bennet’s very brave ‘selfie’ that went viral with 3 million views and shared by 10 000 users, depicted the 20 year old law student from Swansea standing in his boxers with his 5 week old stoma bag proudly on …
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3 Sep
Starting school
On Monday, Ella’s next adventure begins… The Education Health and Care Plan has been finalised, the school uniform bought and my head is fit to explode with equal measures of pride, worry and love. My big girl is going …
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24 Aug
We Three Teds
‘Three teds (Dotty the Cat, Olive the Lion and Frank the Monkey) travelling the world visiting real families who want to share their lives – each is lucky to love a person with Down Syndrome’… Our visit from Dotty the …
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2 Aug
Runner bean
Ella very much lives for the moment… I love that about her, but it does bring with it certain challenges. And this is in no way meant to be a negative post, just an honest one. I am finding it …
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28 Jul
14 Shocking things you need to know about dental health
14 Shocking things you need to know about dental health. We all know that brushing our teeth twice a day and regular visits to our dentists are the key to keeping our teeth healthy. While this is true, there are …
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26 Jul
Remember me?!
Some of you may (or may not) have noticed but it’s been a fairly epic break since I last wrote a post on here… I decided to take a little break to spend more quality (less distracted) time with my …
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29 Jun
Stay cool. It’s going to be hot.
A heat wave is forecast with temperatures rising above 30 degrees centigrade. Detrimental health effects of hot weather include dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke , which is a medical emergency and can be fatal. Generally the risk of these …
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23 Jun
Proud Moments – June 2015
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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21 Jun
New Meningitis Vaccine.A great Fathers Day Present
Today it was announced that England will become the first country in the world to protect babies against Meningitis B. There is also going to be a vaccine against Meningitis W, which commonly affects teenagers and students. The new vaccine …
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18 Jun
Informed Choice
It has been kindly brought to my attention this morning that an image of myself and Rosie is being used in the USA for a ‘pro-life’ article fiercely campaigning against abortion.I’d like to state that if you see any articles …
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17 Jun
It’s Summer – be careful out there!
With Summer upon us, I thought I would remind people of some of the dangers associated with the great outdoors. Despite the UK being a relatively safe place as far as harmful creatures is concerned there are some that can …
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8 Jun
Telling the medical wheat from the chaff
Ten days ago I had an exchange with Dr Janice Joneja which illustrated yet again the problems faced by conventional practitioners when dealing with little understood conditions such as autism. Dr Joneja had had an email from a dietitian who had …
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7 Jun
Sliding Doors
These are my two babies at their 20 week scans… Look very similar, don’t they? Both loved, wanted and unique. However, one of …
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1 Jun
The ‘Magic’
A couple of years ago, I nursed a lovely old lady. I’d not met her before and while helping her to have a wash, we got talking about her and her family. She told me about her husband, their two …
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1 Jun
Sudden Infant Death syndrome – Advice for Parents
I have not shaved today. Over 30 years ago I worked for a Paediatrician who had a special interest in what was then termed cot death. I found it very distressing and emotional dealing with cases. Little was known about …
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26 May
Mum knows best when it comes looking after our teeth
Parents pass many pearls of wisdom throughout their lifetime but its mums who seem to take the lead on how we care for our teeth, according to a new poll. More than two in three (68 per cent) of us …
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15 May
New Safety App for National Epilepsy Week Stay Smart campaign
SUDEP Action has launched its Stay Smart campaign for National Epilepsy Week encouraging people with epilepsy to register for a new Safety App. The technology, EpSMon, is designed to help people with epilepsy assess their risks in between visits with …
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5 May
The Problem with Nuts
Well, to be honest, it is not nuts that are the problem, it is the confusion arising from the laudable efforts of regulators and manufacturers to improve allergen labelling for the benefit of allergic consumers. But, nuts being at the …
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20 Apr
The language of life
I often wish I could get inside Ella’s head… I wonder what the world is like from her perspective, what she sees, how she thinks and how she feels. I’ve had a challenging time with her recently – …
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17 Apr
School and the EHCP
As with a lot of families across the country, this week we received our offer of a place at Primary School for Ella. We did our research and ended up choosing our local, mainstream school that we live in the …
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24 Mar
Food allergies: How to deal with kid’s parties
We have yet another birthday party coming up. I don’t know the parents – or even the child particularly, so we’re instantly on allergy alert. Here’s our list of things to think about when the invite arrives: MyItchyBoy is now …
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21 Mar
Proud moments – {March 2015}
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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17 Mar
Packing an everyday bag for your allergy child
We have a bag for MyItchyBoy that goes everywhere with him. Over the past few years we’ve learned the essentials we need to keep in there. Ask your local pharmacy if they can sell you a small medicine bottle. Ours …
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5 Mar
Preparing for your child’s Allergy Appointment
How to prepare for your child’s Allergy Appointment Check your appointment letter to see whether there will be any tests done on the day – skin prick or blood test. Also check if and when you need to stop giving …
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5 Mar
Putting on a smile for World Book Day
Today, everybody at the British Dental Health Foundation is celebrating World Book Day! As a charity, we are determined to improve the oral health of children not only across the United Kingdom but all over the world. We believe in …
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20 Feb
{Proud Moments} – February 2015
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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19 Feb
The Invisibility Cloak
I didn’t gain weight accidentally. I didnt gain weight because I simply couldn’t resist the chocolate or couln’t be bothered to exercise. I didn’t gain weight by having my four children. It didn’t creep up on me. I gained weight …
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15 Feb
Oh Help, Oh No…It’s a Gruffalo!!
Friday was an inset day for Ella, before her half term break starts. With Lucy at her nursery as usual, I had a rare day to spend with just my big girl. A quick google search for local days out …
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11 Feb
One small step for Rosie…
Wow what a few weeks we’ve been having with little Budlington! Those that follow on Facebook will be aware that her recent jaunts with her walking aid have reached a whole new level after we walked all the way to …
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21 Jan
{Proud Moments} – January 2015
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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19 Jan
Living Arrows 2015 {3/52}
My East Coast American cousins will wonder what we’re all so excited about this side of the pond… But we’ve had SNOW!! Not as much as they’re used to but enough for a snowman (or two) and a few snowballs. …
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12 Jan
Living Arrows 2015 {2/52}
This weekend I got to spend some time with just Ella while my mum looked after Lucy. An adventure with my big girl… Her nursery had organised a trip to see ‘We’re going on a bear hunt’ at The Lowry …
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11 Jan
Strolling into a new year…
This is a very quick post to share the amazing achievement of Rosie over the festive holidays. It’s been a wonderful break for Rosie and family – so much has happened and I have no idea where to begin. The …
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8 Jan
Unexpected Thanks
I used to think I was a pretty organised person. As the years have progressed and I now have more responsibilities (and less time) I am slowly coming around to the realisation that how organised I think I am and …
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5 Jan
Living Arrows 2015 {1/52}
Thought I’d start off this years Living Arrows project with some pictures of both girls, so I can look back at the end of the year and see how they have grown and changed. Here’s my biggest girl who just …
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30 Dec
Another year over…
The presents have been opened, lots of food eaten and lots of fun with family has been had. Now the decorations are down as we say farewell to Christmas and await the beginning of a new year… A good time …
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21 Dec
{Proud Moments} – December 2014
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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19 Dec
I'm (kind of) Standing – yeah! yeah! yeah!
This is likely to be the last post of this year before it’s tools down and chilling out for Christmas. Two fairly major events have happened since I last wrote and seeing as they are both really positive it seems …
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9 Dec
Now I am 4!
Happy Birthday Ella! For some reason, 4 seems so much bigger and older than 3 to me. I feel as though she’s grown up so much, more than the passing of just one year… 3 to 4… A …
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30 Nov
Daddy's Girl
I’m not sure why or for what reason but at this particular moment in Rosie’s life she is very much all about ‘Daddy’. This is not to say no-one else gets a look in but we just seem to be …
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21 Nov
{Proud Moments} – November 2014
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome …
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20 Nov
Power to the Parents!
Last month I was kindly invited by Viv Bennett, Director of Nursing at DoH to partake in their current ‘Week of Action’ by writing this post outlining the power and importance of parent blogging and what motivated me to start ‘The …
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5 Nov
Sorry seems to be the hardest word…
So after a few days without my family I sit here babysitting my Godson Marley and his sister whilst his Mum and Dad go out for a well earned meal – it feels a bit like a busman’s holiday to …
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2 Nov
Eczema: guilt-ridden, relentless helicoptering!
There has been much talk over the years of allergy parents being forced to become the much-mocked ‘helicopter’ parent out of necessity and panic over their child. Watching everything your child eats and touches and is given to avoid an …
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24 Oct
Sisters #4
Through the recent sleepless nights, two poorly girls, temperatures, tears (including mine!) and snot there have been lots of (mostly) lovely moments between my little ladies. Seemingly small, trivial and fleeting things that don’t mean very much on their own …
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21 Oct
{Proud Moments} – October 2014
There’s a lovely little thing that happens every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the three copies of chromosome 21 …
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7 Oct
10 Tips for Travelling with an Allergic Child
Here are my top 10 tips for travelling with an allergic child that I wanted to share after our experience of MyItchyBoy having an allergic reaction on holiday this summer: 1. Agree beforehand who is best equipped to deal with …
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7 Oct
Allergic Reaction on Holiday
Finding somewhere to take an atopic child on holiday is hard. For MyItchyBoy, it’s not just the food allergies, but eczema too. We have to find somewhere not too remote (proximity to medical services and availability of food), somewhere not …
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6 Oct
Pre-school begins
We are already 3 weeks into Ella’s first term at pre-school. Time is flying by! And I’m happy to report that she seems to be loving it and has settled in really well. I was able to drop her off …
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30 Sep
Oral health report encouraging, charity claims
The news was released on the British Dental Health Foundation News section The first national survey examining the oral health of three year old children has revealed more than one in 10 have signs of visible tooth decay. The report, …
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29 Sep
My Big Girl and I, Part 2
This is my last Monday with only Ella while Lucy is in nursery. Then it’s back to normal from next week. So today I thought we’d do something that would be nigh on impossible with both of them and that …
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22 Sep
A Double MAD Night
*WARNING* This post contains countless clichés! So apologies in advance for a post likely to be packed full of obvious statements but I just can’t find the words to express my total shock at coming away from Friday night’s 2014 …
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21 Sep
Proud moments – September
There’s this lovely little thing that happens on the 21st of every month in the ‘Future of Downs’ Facebook group. We celebrate our children’s milestones and share what’s made us proud. We do this on the 21st to represent the …
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10 Sep
Budlington Begins Nursery
So last Wednesday the day finally arrived for Rosie to begin nursery school. It’s a day that three years ago we could only dream about. This time in 2011 we were two weeks away from signing the medical forms that …
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9 Sep
My Big Girl and I, Part 1
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To cut a long and rather boring story short, for the next few weeks Lucy is going to nursery on a Monday meaning I get a day a week with Ella by herself.This Monday was our first day together. After …
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3 Sep
I Heart my girl
Just a quick post. Ella had her yearly cardiac review today. It soon comes around! I know I’ve said this before, but it’s still the appointment I worry about the most and the one I lose sleep over. I doubt …
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2 Sep
Flowering Bud
I apologise for beginning this post with an age old cliché but seriously, where does time actually go? Another couple of weeks (and more) have passed since I last wrote and suddenly I find everything happening at once. No sooner …
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23 Aug
3 years later…
3 years ago this week, I started a blog. A blog about my baby daughter Ella. A lot had happened since her birth and I wanted to capture her milestones and achievements and to share our journey. I wanted to …
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19 Aug
Smoke-free cars ‘a step in the right direction’
The blog entry was released on the British Dental Health Foundation Blog section The proposal to ban smoking in cars carrying children is a very welcome one indeed. As mouth cancer campaigners, the British Dental Health Foundation believe the consultation put forward …
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14 Aug
Glastonbuddy 2014
Well we’re now back from our Summer holidays and I thought it was about time I wrote a post, so here goes…A week and half ago we packed up our car filling every single available space with camping equipment and …
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6 Aug
Little butterfly
Today was Ella’s leavers party at nursery. Saying goodbye to all the children leaving to go to school or pre school. They had a great day, with bouncy castle, games and party food. There was still very much a party …
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3 Aug
On a Roll
I suddenly seem to have a little girl by my side, no longer a toddler… She’s very independent, chatty, pushing boundaries and generally growing up way too fast. Over the last few weeks, the biggest change in her has …
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28 Jul
Bladder, bowel and digestive health clinic 2014
Did you manage to visit our online clinic on bladder, bowel and digestive health? If you missed it or would like to read through the questions and answers you can see all the content here. We would like to thank …
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16 Jul
Mencap Top Talent
Well I promised in my last post that I’d let you know how the talk went… It’s been three weeks and I’ve just not managed to find the time for one reason or another. So I apologise for taking so …
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30 Jun
Sun safety at Wimbledon
The sun is shining once again over Wimbledon and St John Ambulance is encouraging spectators to stay safe in the sun by being aware of a few simple steps. The high temperatures are already keeping the 43 volunteer first aiders, …
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27 Jun
Challenge eHealth Innovation Awards
talkhealth are proud to be supporting the Challenge ‘eHealth innovation Awards’. Please see details below. Expressions of interest are now open for the ‘Challenge eHealth Innovation Awards’. The event sponsored by the Welsh Government offers SMEs, clinicians, healthcare workers, patients, …
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24 Jun
Little Miss Swiss
I think I’ve just broken my own record for the longest time between posts! During this time Rosie has been unwell with a chest and ear infection (for over two weeks). It’s been a long time since she’s been under …
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22 Jun
Learning disability week 2014
To celebrate this years learning disability week, Mencap have chosen ‘firsts’ as their focus topic. Wonderful stories of first days at school, first dates, first homes, jobs and other milestones have been shared by people all week. It’s made me …
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20 Jun
Sleeping lion
When I was little, my parents would often find me asleep on the landing outside their bedroom door when they got up in a morning. I have vague memories of doing this and seem to remember taking my blanket with …
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20 May
Need to lose weight ASAP!
I’ve just had a Facebook message asking me for help, looking for a gym, as they “need to lose weight ASAP” Here is my response: “Here’s some free advice that most people pay for, so I’ll keep it simple and …
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19 May
What a team!
Well what can I say about yesterday?I’ve tried thinking of suitable words; Proud, emotional, humbled, grateful, tearful… but nothing comes close to explaining how I really felt seeing everyone, runners of all abilities, in their green Running for Rosie & Friends 2014 …
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12 May
Taking a stroll
In true Rosie fashion any worries and anxieties raised in last weeks post were swiftly put to one side (for a short while at least) when she walked across the room for the very first time with the aid of …
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8 May
Exam Pressure – Helping Out the Kids!
Kids at the age of seven appear to be doing their exams at the moment. It appears that they are being put under lots of pressure. Parents are reporting to me that their kids are experiencing tantrums, sleepless nights, crying…in …
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7 May
Ever felt like pulling your hair out?
…”Might be a bit of a struggle in your case Tom!” I hear you say. However for Rosie things are a bit different. To be honest with you this post doubles up as a cry for help/advice/reassurance as much as …
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6 May
The Learning Journey
Last week we received confirmation of Ella’s pre-school place… Can’t actually believe I’ve just typed that. Pre-school?! Where have the last 4 years gone?! I’m already an emotional wreck about it. She will be leaving the wonderful nursery she’s been …
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2 May
Want to know the latest news on talkhealth? Here’s what we’ve got coming up in May…
National Epilepsy Week National Epilepsy week for 2014 is running from 18th – 24th May – and talkhealth will be doing everything we can to help raise awareness during this time. We are very excited to be running the FIRST EVER …
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29 Apr
Spring into action!
It’s been a busy but brilliant couple of weeks since I last posted an update on here. The long Easter weekend was spent with Uncle’s, Aunts, Cousins and grandparents as we descended on the London branch of the family. On …
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18 Apr
Will my son make a great pharmacist one day?
MyItchyBoy’s arms and legs are itchy and sore and it seems nothing we are doing is helping. Our last appointment with the dermatologist, lots of scary-sounding solutions were brought up. Since then, he’s been on a two month course of steroids. …
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13 Apr
Living arrows 15/52 –
The time, place, family and story behind the picture may be different. But if you look back through many a baby photo album there are certain scenes that get re-enacted time and time again. A brand new, pink baby in …
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7 Apr
Living arrows 14/52 – snuggles
Today was mostly wet and miserable. This afternoon while Lucy napped, Ella and I cuddled on the chair and watched some TV. It’s very rare these days that it’s only Ella and I – makes every little snuggle more important …
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5 Apr
Living arrows 13/52 – my little artist
Ella just loves drawing. She often asks for ‘paper’ and will sit and draw at her little table for ages. It seems to be the one activity that holds her attention and calms her inner whirlwind for a time. Her …
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2 Apr
Every little step…
Well I’m happy to say we’ve survived March again – without doubt THE most chaotic month of the year in our house. Thankfully all birthdays passed off without too much trouble other than the obvious dent in the the monthly …
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24 Mar
Living arrows 12/52
After a couple of weeks of illness and teething, our happy girl is back… +1063
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24 Mar
Living arrows 12/52
After a couple of weeks of illness and teething, our happy girl is back… +1038
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21 Mar
Living arrows 11/52 – raising awareness xx
So, breaking with the norm a bit here.. A video rather than a picture but it’s World Downs Syndrome awareness week and this sums it up nicely xx http://youtu.be/ssGqVO6BBBM +1059
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21 Mar
Living arrows 11/52 – raising awareness xx
So, breaking with the norm a bit here.. A video rather than a picture but it’s World Downs Syndrome awareness week and this sums it up nicely xx http://youtu.be/ssGqVO6BBBM +1110
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19 Mar
Bud turns three
As you may remember from last year March is a truly crazy month in our household with all three of our children celebrating birthdays! Rosie turned three this weekend and we celebrated at home with family and friends, all of …
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19 Mar
Nutrition & Hydration Week 17-23 March
Water – did you know that it’s the best fuel for a healthy life – and in fact one of the most precious and important commodities in the world? Water makes up 2/3rds of our body and therefore it is …
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17 Mar
Lose the label campaign
This week is Down’s Syndrome Awareness week – there couldn’t be a more appropriate time for Ella to be featured in the powerful and emotive photo campaign entitled ‘Lose the Label’… It took a long time, but I don’t think …
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17 Mar
Lose the label campaign
This week is Down’s Syndrome Awareness week – there couldn’t be a more appropriate time for Ella to be featured in the powerful and emotive photo campaign entitled ‘Lose the Label’… It took a long time, but I don’t think …
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14 Mar
Living arrows 10/52 – First of Spring…
Lovely afternoons in the garden with my girls this week. Lets hope this lovely weather continues! +1062
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14 Mar
Living arrows 10/52 – First of Spring…
Lovely afternoons in the garden with my girls this week. Lets hope this lovely weather continues! +1103
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8 Mar
Living arrows 9/52 – family
So here’s this weeks living arrows. Better late than never, can you tell I’m back at work now?… Here’s Ella with my two younger brothers at Fountains Abbey last weekend. I love them as my brothers, but love them even …
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8 Mar
Living arrows 9/52 – family
So here’s this weeks living arrows. Better late than never, can you tell I’m back at work now?… Here’s Ella with my two younger brothers at Fountains Abbey last weekend. I love them as my brothers, but love them even …
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5 Mar
The rest will follow…
Ever since Ella was a tiny baby there has been huge emphasis on supporting and helping her development. Over the last three years she’s had medical and developmental input from physiotherapy, speech therapy, dietitians, paediatrician, specialist nurses, cardiac team, feeding …
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5 Mar
The rest will follow…
Ever since Ella was a tiny baby there has been huge emphasis on supporting and helping her development. Over the last three years she’s had medical and developmental input from physiotherapy, speech therapy, dietitians, paediatrician, specialist nurses, cardiac team, feeding …
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27 Feb
Learning to walk and fork
Last week we had a visit from Rosie’s physio who said she’d noticed a big difference in her, which is so encouraging to hear, especially from a professional as I often lose sight of how well she is doing – …
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